Corona SOPs for restaurants: Love to dine out? This is what you can expect at your favourite eatery soon

Next time you visit a restaurant, chances are that the place might be half empty! That’s not because it serves poor food or have bad service. The government has asked restaurants in non-containment zones to keep seating at only half their capacity to ensure social distancing, and ensure necessary hygiene to contain spread of Covid-19.

As per the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the government on Thursday, only asymptomatic staff and patrons shall be allowed, and entrance will have mandatory hand hygiene tools - sanitiser dispensers, and thermal screening provisions.

"Restaurants in containment zones shall remain closed. Only those outside containment zones will be allowed to open up," it said. The restaurants should also display posters, standees and audio-visual media on preventive measures for Covid-19 prominently. 

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The sitting arrangements will be different from the past too, with ministry asking restaurants to ensure that there is a six feet distance in seating arrangements and mandated to ensure use of face masks and face covers, hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette for all the staff members and patrons. 

As per the SOPs, "not more than 50 per cent of seating capacity to be permitted. Disposable menus are advised to be used."

Installing Aarogya Setu app is also advised as per the SOP. The restaurants also shall ensure deep cleaning of all washrooms and sanitisation of kitchen area at regular intervals. The Ministry also said that instead of dine-in, restaurants should encourage takeaways. 

"Food delivery personnel should leave the packet at the customer`s door. Do not hand over the food packet directly to the customer," it said.

The government asked all employees at higher risk to take extra precautions. These include older employees, pregnant employees and employees who have underlying medical conditions, are to take extra precautions.

"They should preferably not be exposed to any front-line work requiring direct contact with the public. Restaurant management to facilitate work from home wherever feasible," the guidelines said.